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    Bangladesh Reading Association Hosts National Conference on Literacy

     | May 06, 2013

    by Nafiz Uddin Khan

    The National Conference of the Bangladesh Reading Association (BRA) was held in Dhaka October 5-6 with the theme of “Problems and Practices of Teaching in Bangladesh.” The conference was jointly organized by the Bangladesh Reading Association and Dhaka Ahsania Mission (DAM), in cooperation with the International Reading Association (IRA) and Campaign for Popular Education (CAMPE).

    Mr. Kamal Abdul Naser Chowdhury, PhD, Secretary, Ministry of Education, Government of Bangladesh, was the Chief Guest in the inaugural ceremony of the conference. Carrice C. Cummins, President of IRA, was the Special Guest for the occasion. Prof. M. Eltasuddin, Vice Chairman of BRA, welcomed the participants. Mr. Kzai Rafi qul Alam, Chairman of the Bangladesh Reading Association, chaired the inaugural ceremony.

    Around 500 teachers from primary, secondary, and other educational institutions participated in the conference. There were three plenary and ten parallel sessions in the conference with a variety of topics relevant to the theme of the conference.

    Since its inception, BRA has been organizing activities to improve the capacity of teachers in different areas of professional development. BRA targeted October 5, World Teachers Day, to hold this national conference. The main objectives of the conference were:
    • To bring quality in educational delivery to primary and secondary schools;
    • To explore the current problems and good practices of teaching and learning processes in primary and secondary schools in Bangladesh;
    • To encourage teachers and educators to document and research good practices in teaching-related topics;
    • To develop an action plan for conducting, publishing, and disseminating research on teaching and learning processes, curriculum, creative learning materials, etc;
    • To encourage teachers and educators to become pro-active for their professional development.

    Prof. Dr. M.M.Safiullah, Vice Chancellor, Ahsanullah University of Science and Technology, Dhaka, presented the keynote paper on Education and Problems of Education Practice in Bangladesh. This keynote focused on the overall problems and practices of teaching in the primary and secondary level in Bangladesh. It showed the education system, policy of primary and secondary education, and teachers’ motivation and practices in the classroom.

    At the closing session of the conference the participants opined that this was a successful event that should be organized every year. They also suggested the idea of publishing a teachers’ journal to share their problems, practices, and experiences with teaching.

    Nafiz Uddin Khan is the Project Manager at Bangladesh Reading Association, Nafiz1966@gmail.com.

    Bangladesh

    The Chief Guest Mr. Kamal Abdul Naser Chowdhury, PhD, Secretary, Ministry of Education speaks

    Bangladesh

    International Reading Association President (2012-2013) Carrice Cummins speaks

    Bangladesh

    Attendees at the conference

    This article was originally published in the December 2012/January 2013 issue of Reading Today. IRA members can read the interactive digital version of the magazine here. Nonmembers: join today!


    <a href="http://engage./directory/communitydetails/?CommunityKey=1e1d0278-6be6-4fac -a1be-a119ce8ca58b">
    by Nafiz Uddin Khan The National Conference of the Bangladesh Reading Association (BRA) was held in Dhaka October 5-6 with the theme of “Problems and Practices of Teaching in Bangladesh.” The conference was jointly organized by the Bangladesh...Read More
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    How to Obtain Conference Clock Hours or a Certificate of Attendance

     | May 01, 2013

    As you revel in the afterglow of inspiration and camaraderie from the International Reading Association (IRA) 58th Annual Convention in San Antonio, don’t forget to add one more “to-do” to your list: print your clock hours!

    Many districts require proof of conference attendance for professional development credit. To research your state’s clock hour policies, visit IRA’s clock hours information page.

    IRA offers an online clock hour interface that allows you to print a certificate of attendance in English or Spanish and/or print an official transcript of sessions you attended. Simply follow the steps below to obtain the paperwork necessary for your supervisors and administrators.

    How to Print a Certificate of Attendance

    1. Visit the IRA Annual Conference website at www.iraconference.org. Click on the blue “log on and create a transcript” link next to the orange clock on the right side of the screen.

     

    2. On the webpage that opens, enter your badge number, first name, and last name in the fields indicated. Then click the “Next” button.

     

    3. On the next webpage, determine whether you’d like to print a certificate of attendance or an official transcript of your sessions for professional development. Certificates are available in English or Spanish. Click the appropriate gray button for the item you desire. For now, we will show you how to print a certificate, so we’ll click on the “Claim Certificate of Attendance (English)” button.  

     

    4. On the next webpage there is a brief, one-question survey about your experience in San Antonio. Please respond to this question and then click the “Next” button.

     

    5. The next webpage will show buttons for the three options again: “Claim Certificate of Attendance (English),” “Claim Certificate of Attendance (Spanish),” and “Claim Official Transcript for Professional Development.” It will also show a list of sessions that you already added to your transcript, if you added sessions using the clock hours interface on-site at the Convention Center or from your personal computer.

    (Since we are just printing a certificate in this example, we do not need to add sessions to our transcript at this point. We will show you how to do that in the next section of this guide.) For now, we’re just clicking the “Claim Certificate of Attendance (English)” button. 

     

    6. This is how the certificate will look. You can print this certificate.

    If you chose a certificate in Spanish, this is how it will look:

     

    How to Print a Clock Hours Transcript

    1. If you’d like to print a transcript, follow steps 1. and 2. above. At step 3., click on the “Claim Official Transcript for Professional Development” button.

     

    2. A webpage with a list of sessions will show. Click on the yellow tabs on the top of the list to switch days, and click on the checkboxes next to the sessions you attended each day.

    When you click a checkbox for a certian time-slot, the checkboxes next to other sessions during that time slot will “fade” so you cannot select them.

    When finished selecting sessions for all days you attended, click on the gray “Next” button at the top of the page.

     

    3. The next webpage shows a list of the sessions you selected and the total number of clock hours you acquired. Click on the “Claim Official Transcript for Professional Development” button to view your transcript.

     

    4. Your transcript will look like this. Print it for your records and/or to submit it to your supervisor.

     

    It’s as simple as that! If you require assistance, please contact our customer service department at CustomerService@/, 800-336-7323 (U.S. and Canada), or 302-731-1600 (International and Local).

     

     

     

    As you revel in the afterglow of inspiration and camaraderie from the International Reading Association (IRA) 58th Annual Convention in San Antonio, don’t forget to add one more “to-do” to your list: print your clock hours! Many districts...Read More
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    Sindh-Balochistan Reading Council: Improving Literacy in Pakistan

     | Apr 29, 2013

    by Zafar Yasin and Muhammad Nadim Farooqui

    Pakistan is one of the 12 countries of the world that spends less than 2% of its GNP on education; its primary education system ranks among the world’s least effective. The literacy rate in Sindh and Balochistan provinces are 59% and 41%, respectively. Only 40% of the literate population can read simple text in local languages.

    A significant part of societies in the two provinces lack the reading habit. Generally students read selected portions of class textbooks to prepare for their eventual examinations. Education managers, school head teachers, and classroom teachers rarely buy any books for their own reading. Most schools lack library facilities.

    Schools that do have libraries have usually not updated their book collections for decades. As a result, the state of reading habits is alarming in the two provinces. The Sindh-Balochistan Reading Council (SBRC) believes that the current reading deficiency in society is one of the major causes of the existing wave of terrorism and extremism.

    In order to make a significant difference in the education practices of these two provinces, SBRC hopes to build partner ships with schools for promoting a reading culture.

    Planned interventions include:
    • Conducting school academic audits for the purpose of identifying and enhancing reading spaces within and beyond school hours by promoting family reading engagements;
    • Helping schools in building innovative classroom libraries, managed by students and teachers collaboratively. This innovative library model suggests a change of the whole collection of classroom books in every quarter. This feature of the library would not only attract students but also give them opportunity to interact with a large number of brand new books every year;
    • Providing training to partner school teachers for maximum utilization of the classroom library;
    • Opening opportunities for information exchange in order to improve mutual understanding and to develop competencies and skills necessary to enable changes in social attitude and behavior;
    • Conducting action research to improve classroom teaching, enhance effectiveness of academic coordination, and refine management practices. (SBRC will work with classroom teachers, academic coordinators, and education managers to identify critical issues.)

    SBRC is a brand new council chartered with IRA and is already actively working in the Sindh and Balochistan Provinces of Pakistan. This new and enthusiastic council got the awesome opportunity to introduce itself and showcase IRA’s global contribution in an international conference organized by the Society of Pakistan English Language Teachers (SPELT - Pakistan’s largest and the oldest ELT body). The conference keynote speaker, presenters, and the audience received the two bodies very well. The visitors showed their interest to be part of the global and the local body. A few national organizations shared this degree of interest in collaboration. This wonderful experience boosted confidence and enthusiasm in our efforts for making a difference in our society against terrorism and extremism.

    Zafar Yasin is the Senior Subject Specialist at Provincial Institute forTeacher Education, Quetta, Pakistan.

    Muhammad Nadim Farooqui is the Professional Development Teacher at Aga Khan University-Institute for Educational Development.

    The Sindh-Balochistan Reading Council was just awarded an IRA International Membership Development Award for reaching over 100 members in less than a year.

    This article was originally printed in the December 2012/January 2013 issue of Reading Today. IRA members can read the interactive digital version of the magazine here. Nonmembers: join today


    <a href="http://engage./directory/communitydetails/?CommunityKey=1e1d0278-6be6-4fac -a1be-a119ce8ca58b">
    by Zafar Yasin and Muhammad Nadim Farooqui Pakistan is one of the 12 countries of the world that spends less than 2% of its GNP on education; its primary education system ranks among the world’s least effective. The literacy rate in Sindh and ...Read More
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    Annual Convention Quick Links

     | Apr 17, 2013

    As the International Reading Association 58th Annual Convention rapidly approaches, we thought we’d develop a list of useful links that will help you access key tools for your trip. Bookmark this page for easy access on your computer, tablet, or phone!

    Register!

    Find Your Way!

    Plan Your Day!

    Read More...and Share!

    Join the Conversation!

    The IRA Annual Convention will be held on April 19-22, 2013, in San Antonio, Texas. Visit the official website at www.iraconvention.org for more information.

     

     

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    As the International Reading Association 58th Annual Convention rapidly approaches, we thought we’d develop a list of useful links that will help you access key tools for your trip. Bookmark this page for easy access on your computer, tablet, or...Read More
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    New Merchandise and More at the IRA Bookstore

     | Apr 15, 2013

    No IRA annual convention is complete without at least one stop at the IRA Bookstore. The store offers hot new books, bestsellers, and trusted favorites as well as new IRA-themed merchandise, including the official convention t-shirt.

    Extended Hours

    The IRA Bookstore, located in the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center’s Bridge Hall (across from the Membership Booth), will be open starting Friday, April 19. The 2013 hours are:

    • Friday, April 19 – 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
    • Saturday, April 20 – 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
    • Sunday, April 21 – 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
    • Monday, April 22 – 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

    bookstore

    Discounts and Free Gifts

    Get there early: Friday is the only day that the IRA Bookstore will offer discounts on a limited quantity of specially selected books.

    Throughout the rest of the convention, all regularly priced books will be sold at member price—a 20% discount—and attendees will get a free gift with every purchase (while supplies last).

    T-Shirts, Water Bottles, Notebooks, and More

    IRA notebook, water bottle, change wallet

    IRA post-its, pens, mug

    The official 2013 convention t-shirt will be revealed when the IRA Bookstore opens on Friday, April 19. This will be the first chance to purchase the t-shirt as well as other IRA merchandise, including:
    • Pens
    • Notebooks
    • Mugs
    • Change purses
    • Water bottles
    • Sticky note sets

    Bookstore Bucks

    Don’t forget to redeem Bookstore Bucks, offered for joining, renewing, or upgrading your IRA membership and journal subscription at the Membership Booth and found in the IRA Coupon Booklet in your registration bag. The IRA Coupon Booklet includes $5 in Bookstore Bucks—that’s an automatic $5 off a purchase of $15 or more.

    Shorter Lines

    This year the IRA Bookstore will offer Express Checkout for customers with three items or less who are paying with credit cards.

    Ship It Through Order Express

    Buying too much to carry home? Place your IRA book order through Order Express to enjoy free shipping and avoid sales tax.

    New Books

    New books at this year’s IRA Bookstore include:
    • Theoretical Models and Processes of Reading, Sixth Edition
      Donna E. Alvermann, Norman J. Unrau, Robert B. Ruddell, Editors
    • The Common Core: Teaching K–5 Students to Meet the Reading Standards
      Maureen McLaughlin, Brenda J.Overturf
    • The Common Core: Teaching Students in Grades 6–12 to Meet the Reading Standards
      Maureen McLaughlin,Brenda J. Overturf
    • Quality Reading Instruction in the Age of Common Core Standards
      Susan B. Neuman, Linda B. Gambrell, Editors
    • Comprehension Instruction Through Text-Based Discussion
      Linda Kucan, Annemarie Sullivan Palincsar
    • The Comprehension Instruction Through Text-Based Discussion
      Linda Kucan, Annemarie Sullivan Palincsar
    • The Literacy Jigsaw Puzzle: Assembling the Critical Pieces of Literacy Instruction
      Beverly Tyner
    • Common Core English Language Arts in a PLC at Work™ Series
      Douglas Fisher, Nancy Frey (Copublished with Solution Tree Press)
    • Teaching Vocabulary to English Language Learners
      Michael F. Graves, Diane August, Jeannette Mancilla-Martinez (Copublished with Teachers College Press, Center for Applied Linguistics, and TESOL)

    Author Signings

    Meet your favorite IRA authors at these book signings located in the IRA Bookstore: 

    • Saturday, April 20 at 10:30 a.m. – Douglas Buehl
    • Saturday, April 20 at 11:30 a.m. – Valerie Ellery
    • Saturday, April 20 at 12:30 p.m. – Regie Routman
    • Saturday, April 20 at 2:30 p.m. – Susan Neuman and Linda Gambrell
    • Saturday, April 20 at 3:30 p.m. – Linda Kucan and Annemarie Palincsar
    • Sunday, April 21 at 10:00 a.m. – Beverly Tyner
    • Sunday, April 21 at 11:00 a.m. – Douglas Fisher, Nancy Frey, and Diane Lapp
    • Sunday, April 21 at 12:00 p.m. – Maureen McLaughlin and Brenda Overturf
    • Sunday, April 21 at 2:30 p.m. – Lori Oczkus

    The IRA 58th Annual Convention runs from April 19 to 22, 2013, in San Antonio, Texas. Visit the iPlanner Program Grid and Event Search for session dates, times, and details. Visit the official convention website at www.iraconvention.org for information about additional offerings and events or to register.

     

     

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